Flow selector devices



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1951 C/cero C. Brown INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1955 c. c. BROWN FLOW SELECTOR DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Sept. 24, 1951 C/cero C. Brown INVENTOR.

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TTORNEKS AM B United States Patent FLOW SELECTGR DEVICES Cicero C.Brown, Houston, Tex.

Application September 24, 1951, Serial No. 248,072

8 Claims. (Cl. 166-226) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in flow selector devices.

In the dual production of wells, it is the general practice to set awell packer between two producing formations and to also set a wellpacker above the upper producing formation, whereby the flow from thetwo producing formations is separated. In some instances, productionfrom one formation is through the well casing while production from theother formation is through the well tubing, and various types ofapparatus are employed for directing the flow in a desired manner. Instill other instances, it is desirable to produce only from oneformation at a time, in which case flow may be directed upwardly throughthe tubing from either formation. In this latter case, however, it isnecessary that means be provided for completely shutting off flow fromone formation while allowing production from the other.

The present invention relates particularly to an improved flow selectordevice which will efliciently control the flow from either one or theother of two producing formations into the flow tubing.

An important object is to provide a flow selector device which isoperable merely by a rotation of the tubing string so that flow may beselectively directed from either producing zone into the tubing;actuation of the device by a tubing rotation making it possible tooperate the device without interfering with the setting of the packer orpackers which are mounted on the tubing string.

Another object is to provide an improved device of the characterdescribed which is so constructed that when desired a rotation of thetubing will result in transmitting such rotation through the device tothe lower end of the tubing string, whereby well units, such as packerswhich require rotation for setting, may be manipulated without actuatingthe flow selector device.

Still another object is to provide a flow selector device wherein atubular sleeve type valve element is moved longitudinally of the deviceby means of a rotatable actuator which has connection with the tubingstring; the connection between the rotatable actuator and the tubularvalve element comprising relatively coarse screw threads, wherebypositive operation is assured.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown,and wherein:

Figure l is a schematic view of a flow selector device constructed inaccordance with the invention and illustrating the same connected in thetubing string,

Figure 2 is an enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevation,with the tubular valve of the device in a position allowing flow fromthe upper producing zone into the tubing,

Figure 3 is a similar view with the valve of the device positioned todirect flow from the lower producing zone into the tubing,

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 2,

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 ofFigure 2, and

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure 2.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a well bore which extendsdownwardly through an upper producing formation A and a lower producingformation B. The bore has a well casing disposed therein, and saidcasing is perforated at 11 opposite the zone A and at 12 opposite thezone B, whereby flow from the formation or zones into the casing mayoccur.

A well tubing 13 extends axially through the casing and has the improvedflow selector device S connected therein as will be hereinafterdescribed. A well packer 14 which is schematically illustrated and whichmay be of any desired construction packs off between the upper zone Aand the lower zone B; said packer being mounted on the well tubing inthe usual manner to pack off the annulus between the tubing and casing.An upper packer 15, also schematically shown, is set above the upperzone A to pack oil the annulus betWeen the tubing and the casing. Flowor production from the upper Zone A may enter the area between thetubing and the casing between the packers 14 and 15 and as will behereinafter described may be selectively directed through the selectordevice S into the tubing string. The lower end of the tubing is open sothat the flow or production from the lower zone B may enter the lowerend of the tubing and then may be directed upwardly through the device Sinto the tubing string thereabove, through which it is conducted to thesurface.

The flow selector device S is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 andincludes an outer tubular body 16 having an axial bore 17 extendingtherethrough. The lower end of the body is provided with a threaded pin18 whereby said body may be connected through a suitable coupling (notshown) with the well tubing 13. The upper end of the body 16 has arotatable connection through ball bearings 19 with a cylindrical shank20 which is formed integral with the lower end of a box member 21. Thebox member 21 is provided with internal screw threads for attachment tothe tubing string 13. Nearer its lower end, the tubular body 16 isprovided with inlet ports 22 which extend radially through the wallthereof.

A tubular valve element 23 is disposed axially Within the lower portionof the body 16, and this valve element has a closed bottom 24. Spacedupwardly from the bottom a plurality of slots or openings 25 are formedin the tubular valve element, and obviously when these openings are incommunication with the inlet ports 22 in the body 16 a flow from thearea exteriorly of the body 16 may occur into the bore 23a of thetubular valve element. The lower portion of the valve element isslidable within a packing means 26 which is retained within the lowerend of the body 16 by a suitable retaining collar 27.

As will be hereinafter explained, the tubular valve element 23 ismovable axially or longitudinally Within the body 16 and when in theposition shown in Figure 2 the slots or openings 25 of said elementcommunicate with the inlet ports 22 in the valve body, whereby flow fromthe upper zone A may enter the bore of the valve element; at this timethat portion of the valve element below the slots or openings 25 iswithin the packing and the closed bottom 24 prevents any flow from thelower zone upwardly through the tubing string. When the valve element 23is moved downwardly to the position shown in Figure 3, the slots oropenings 25 are disposed below the packing 26 and in such casecommunication between the above the device.

inlets 22 in the body and such slots is shut ofi. At the same time, flowfrom the lower zone B may pass upwardly through the openings or slots 25in the valve element, and such flow may enter the bore 23a of suchelement.

For actuating the tubular valve element 23, said element has a-tubularextension 28 extending upwardly within the bore of the body, and thisextension is provided with an external groove 29 which is engaged by apin 30 mounted in the body 16. The coaction between the pin and grooveprevent a rotation of the tubular valve element within the body. Thelower portion of the bore of the extension 28 is formed with coarsescrew threads 31 and these screw threads are adapted to be engaged bythreads 32 which are formed on the external lower portion of an elongateactuating sleeve 33. The sleeve 33 is preferably made integral with theshank 20 of the box member 21.

As has been previously pointed out, the box member which is connected tothe tubing string above the device is rotatable with respect to the body16 and with respect 'to the lower portion of the tubing connected tosaid body.

The lower packer 14 is mounted on the tubing below the device and whenin its set position will function to retain the body 16 stationary.Thus, when the upper portion of the tubing is rotated a rotation isimparted to the sleeve 33 and through the interengagement of therelatively coarse threads 32 of this sleeve with the coarse threads 31of the extension 28 a longitudinal movement is imparted to the extension28 and to the valve element 23. The threads 31 and 32 are preferablyleft hand threads so that a left hand rotation of the upper portion ofthe tubing string will result in moving the valve element 23 from theposition shown in Figure 2 to the position shown inFigure 3.

For packing off between the'extension 28 and the actuating sleeve 33suitable packing 34'is confined between the upper portion of theextension 23 and the exterior of the sleeve,.said packing beingsupported upon an internal shoulder 35 provided for this purpose withinthe bore of the extension. A packing gland 36 which may be split isthreaded into the extreme upper end of the extension 28 to retain thepacking 34. It is desirable under certain conditions that the upperportion of the tubing 13 may transmit direct right hand rotation to thelower portion of the tubing below the device S and in order to permitsuch transmission of rotation, the upper surface of the packing gland 36is formed with upwardly directed clutch teeth 37. Complementary clutchteeth 33 are formed on the under surface of a shoulder 39 which isformed at the lower end of the shank 29 at the box member 21, as isclearly shown in Figure 2. The pitch or incline of the clutch teeth 37and 38 is the same as the pitch of the coarse threads 31 and 32 so thatwhen the upper portion of the tubing is rotated in a left hand directiona separation of the clutch teeth will occur. However, upon a right handrotation, which is when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2,it is evident that the clutch teeth are interengaged and a rotation ofthe upper portion of the tubing will transmit the same rotation to theex tension 28 and tubular valve element 23. Through the pin or key 30and slot 29 this rotation is transmitted to the body 16 and then to thelower portion of the tubing. It is therefore obvious that under certainconditions a right hand rotation of the upper portion of the tubing willbe transmitted through the device S to the lower portion of the tubingwhereby well devices connected to the lower portion of the tubing may bemanipulated.

In the operation of the selector device, the same is connected in thetubing string as shown in Figure 1, and

with the parts of the device in the position as shown in Figure 2, thetubular valve element 23 is in its raised position, whereby the inletports 22 of the body 16 communicate with the slots or openings 25 of thevalve element and flow into the bore of said valve element may occur.From this bore flow is upwardly through the bore 33a of the actuatingsleeve 33, and then into the tubing string It is thus evident that theproduction 4 from the upper zone is directed upwardly through thetubing. At this time flow from the lower zone B is shut off because thelower closed end of the tubular valve element is adjacent the packing 26which surrounds and packs off around the lower portion of said element.

When it is desired to shut off the. flow from the upper zone and todirect flow from the lower zone, it is only necessary to rotate thetubing 13 above the device in a left hand direction. The outer body 16is held stationary and through the key 30 and slot 29 the valve elementis also held against rotation. The coaction between the coarse threads32 on the actuating sleeve 33 and the threads 31 on extension 28 of thevalve element moves said valve element downwardly with respect to thebody to the position shown in Figure 3. In such position the slots oropenings 25 in the valve element are disposed below the packing 26whereby the flow from the.upper zone is shut off. Such movement of thevalve element to the position of Figure 3 establishes communicationbetween the bore of the tubing below the device S and the bore of thetubing above said device, whereby'the flow from the lower zone isdirected upwardly through the tubing string.

A reverse rotation, that is, a rotation of the upper portion of thetubing in a right hand direction when the parts are in the position ofFigure 3, will cause the tubular valve element to be returned to theposition shown in Figure 2. In such position flow is again directed intothe tubing from the upper zone and is shut off from the lower zone. Itis, of course, evident that if the slots or openings 25 in the valveelement are moved opposite the packing 26 flow from both zones will beshut off. After the parts have been returned to the position shown inFigure 2 the clutch teeth 37 and 38 have been reengaged so that furtherright hand rotation of the tubingabove the selector will transmit suchrotation through the selector device to the lower portion of the tubing.

The device is extremely simple in construction and comprises a minimumnumber of parts. The unit permits the operation to be carried out toselectively. direct flow from either producing zone without impartingany longitudinal movement to the tubing string. The actuation of theselector device is effected solely by rotation of the tubing, and thusthe setting of packers which are mounted on the tubing string are notinterfered with. It is, of course, evident that the upper portion ofthe'tubing must be rotatable within the packer 15, but since the, lowerportion of the tubing is never required to rotate, the lower packer 14may be any of the well known hook wall types. The upper packer may be ofany well known construction which is arranged to allow rotationtherethrough while in its set position.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention isillustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size,shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A flow selector device including, a well tubing, a tubular bodyrotatably mounted on the well tubing and having an inlet port in itswall, a tubular valve slidably keyed within the body and movablelongitudinally therein,

to establish or shut off communication between said inlet port and thebore of the well tubing, an annular packing in the lower portion of thebore of said tubular body, said valve having its lower end closed andmovable through said packing and also having an opening in its wallwhich is adapted to be disposed above or below said packing, anactuating sleeve secured to the well tubing and extending axially withinsaid body, and interengaging means rotatably connecting the sleeve andtubular valve for imparting longitudinal movement to the valve withrespect to the body and the sleeve when said sleeve is rotated relativeto the valve, whereby the valve is operated to control flow from saidinlet port to the well tubing.

2. A flow selector device including, a well tubing, a tubular bodyrotatably mounted on the well tubing and having an inlet port in itswall, a tubular valve slidably keyed within the body and movablelongitudinally therein to establish or shut oflf communication betweensaid inlet port and the bore of the well tubing, an annular packing inthe lower portion of the bore of said tubular body, said valve havingits lower end closed and movable through said packing and also having anopening in its wall which is adapted to be disposed above or below saidpacking, an actuating sleeve secured to the well tubing and extendingaxially Within said body, and interengaging means rotatably connectingthe sleeve and tubular valve for imparting longitudinal movement to thevalve with respect to the body and the sleeve when said sleeve isrotated relative to the valve, whereby the valve is operated to controlflow from said inlet port to the well tubing, said tubular valve when ina position shutting off communication between the inlet port and tubingestablishing communication between said tubing and the area below thebody by means of the opening in its wall.

3. A flow selector device including, a well tubing, a tubular bodyrotatably mounted on said tubing, a tubular valve element slidably keyedwithin the body and movable longitudinally relative thereto, an annularpacking in the lower portion of the bore of the body, said valve havingits lower end movable through the packing and also having an opening inits wall which is adapted to be disposed above or below said packing,the body having a side inlet port which is in communication with thebore of the valve through the opening in the valve when said valveopening is above the packing, the area below the packing being incommunication with the bore of the valve when the valve opening is belowsaid packing, and actuating means secured to the well tubing and engagedwith the valve and imparting longitudinal movement to the valve when thewell tubing is rotated.

4. A flow selector device as set forth in claim 3, together with clutchmeans between said actuating means and valve for rotatably connectingthe actuating means to the valve and body to rotate as a unitarystructure.

5. A flow selector device as set forth in claim 3, including downwardlyextending ratchet lugs on said actuating means, and upwardly extendingratchet lugs on said tubular valve element adapted to interengage withsaid downwardly extending ratchet lugs when said valve element hasreached its limit of upward longitudinal movement, whereby rotation ofsaid actuating means effects rotation of said valve and said body.

6. A flow selector device including, a well tubing, a tubular bodyrotatably mounted on said tubing, a tubular valve element slidably keyedwithin the body and movable longitudinally relative thereto, an annularpacking in the lower portion of the bore of the body, said valve havingits lower end movable through the packing and also having an opening inits wall which is adapted to be disposed above or below said packing,the body having a side inlet port which is in communication with thebore of the valve through the opening in the valve when said valveopening is above the packing, the area below the packing being incommunication with the bore of the valve when the valve opening is belowsaid packing, an actuating sleeve secured to the well tubing andextending axially within the body, and interengaging threads on saidsleeve and tubular valve for imparting longitudinal movement to thevalve when the well tubing and sleeve are rotated with respect to saidvalve and body in which the valve is keyed.

7. A flow selector device as set forth in claim 6, wherein theinterengaging threads on the sleeve and valve are coarse left handthreads.

8. A flow selector device as set forth in claim 6, together with aclutch means between the Well tubing and body operable only upon righthand rotation of the Well tubing, whereby rotation of the tubing impartssimultaneous rotation to the body and valve which is keyed within saidbody.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,107,457 Van Stone Feb. 8, 1938 2,121,268 Shafler June 21, 19382,144,842 Hanes Jan. 24, 1939 2,327,610 Savitz Aug. 24, 1943

